Robert J. McCloskey

Robert J. McCloskey
McCloskey in 1978
54th United States Ambassador to the Netherlands
In office October 22, 1976 – March 10, 1978
President	Gerald Ford Jimmy Carter
Preceded by	Kingdon Gould Jr.
Succeeded by	Geri M. Joseph
United States Ambassador to Cyprus
In office May 20, 1973 – January 14, 1974
Preceded by	David H. Popper
Succeeded by	Rodger Davies
United States Ambassador to Greece
In office 1978–1981
President	Jimmy Carter
Preceded by	Jack B. Kubisch
Succeeded by	Monteagle Stearns
14th Assistant Secretary of State for Legislative Affairs
In office February 21, 1975 – September 10, 1976
Preceded by	A. Linwood Holton
Succeeded by	Douglas J. Bennet
4th Spokesperson for the United States Department of State
In office 1964–1973
Preceded by	Lincoln White
Succeeded by	Carl E. Bartch
Personal details
Born	(1922-11-25)November 25, 1922 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died	November 28, 1996(1996-11-28) (aged 74) Chevy Chase, Maryland, U.S.

Robert James McCloskey (November 25, 1922 – November 28, 1996) was an American diplomat, ombudsman, and relief services executive.

Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the son of Thomas McCloskey and Anna Wallace, he was spokesperson for the United States Department of State from 1964 to 1973 but after a short stint (June 20, 1973, to January 14, 1974) as United States Ambassador to Cyprus, he was asked to return to his old job as spokesperson.

Career

From February 21, 1975, to September 10, 1976, he served as Assistant Secretary of State for Congressional Relations. He later served as United States Ambassador to the Netherlands and to Greece. His government career was followed by a stint as ombudsman at the Washington Post, then as senior vice president of International Catholic Relief Services.

Family

He married Anne Taylor Phelan on July 8, 1961. They had two daughters, Lisa and Andre. He died of leukemia in 1996 in Chevy Chase, Maryland at age 74.